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Synopsis

Release Date:

June 29,2007

By the age of 12, Vitus (played by real-life prodigy Teo Gheorghiu) is a highly gifted musician whose parents have high hopes for him in a career as a classical pianist. The daily pressure of hours of musical practice, his over-protective but well-meaning mother (Julika Jenkins) and his father?s (Urs Jucker) precarious financial situation lead the boy to seek refuge at his eccentric grandfather?s (Bruno Ganz) house. Vitus and his grandfather?s shared love of flying, mischief and adventure offers Vitus an opportunity at a normal childhood, something the burden of his talent had previously prevented him from. When Vitus employs a ruse pretending he?s been robbed of his talent, his future as a piano virtuoso falls at risk. One of the most renowned directors in his native Switzerland, writer-director Fredi Murer has an acclaimed forty-year body of work, which includes Locarno International Film Festival Golden Leopard winner HOHENFEUER (ALPINE FIRE), VOLLMOND & DOWNTOWN SWITZERLAND. Veteran actor Bruno Ganz is one of Europe?s most prolific and internationally distinguished stars. Best known to American audiences for his portrayal of Hitler in THE DOWNFALL: HITLER AND THE END OF THE REICH, Ganz starred in Jonathan Demme?s THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE and Fernando Girasoli?s BREAD AND TULIPS. Ganz will next be seen in Francis Ford Coppola?s YOUTH WITHOUT YOUTH.